Formaldehyde-lam p



I (No Model.) I I I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' R; P. KUHN.

FORMALDEHYDE LAMP.

No. 599,849. Patented Mar. 1, 1898.

N 0 M 0 d e 1 v 2 s n e e t s s h e e t 2.

R. P. KUHN. FORMALDBHYDE LAMP.

No.599,849 Patented Mar. 1,1898. I

IlNrrnn STATES PATENT rrrcn. I

RICHARD P. KUHN, OF ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA.

FORMALDEHYDE-LAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 599,849, dated March 1,1898. Application filed April 14;, 1897. $erial No, 632,159. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD-P. KUHN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Alexandria, in the county of Alexandria and Stateof Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lampsfor Generating Gas, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in lamps,and more particularly to that class which are adapted to generate gas.

The object of this invention is to provide an exceedingly cheap andsimple form of lamp which is adapted to generate formaldehyde. This gasis poisonous to the germs of all contagious diseases, and it alsodestroys moths.

Another object of this invention is to provide a lamp-which is useful todisinfect apartments infected with contagious diseases, and in using thesame the room is closed up tight;

The garments and bedclothing to be disinfected should be also placed orarranged around the room in such a manner that the gas can penetratefreely all parts.

With these objects in view my invention consists in the particularconstruction of the various parts and in'the novel manner of combinationor arrangement of said parts, all of which will be described hereinafterand pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a sideelevation showing my invention as in an operative position. Fig. 2 is across-section taken on a plane just above the perforated disk. Fig. 3 isa longitudinal vertical section. Fig. 4 is a side elevation, with a partbroken away, showing the lamp when packed. Fig. 5 is a detail View ofthe hook and catch.

Referring to the drawings, A representsa pan, having secured therein aninverted pan B, which is provided with a coarse-gauze bottom a. This panis filled with mineral wool or any other suitable material which is notfusible and is adapted to absorb alcohol. The pan A is provided with alip b,which affords means for the water between the two pans to run off,thus preventing the same when poured in the groove between the pans fromraising to a sufficient height to enter the pan B.

larger end of the sides.

This lip is also adapted to support the flue 0 when in a raisedposition, said flue consisting of a cylinder hinged within the outer panapproximately near the lip, having an opening covered with mica tonotecombustion should it take place, and provided with a swage c at itscenter to support a perforated disk D, secured therein by asbestoscement. This disk is made of asbestos-board saturated with a solution ofchlorid of platinum and alcohol. Other liquors may be used in connectionwith the chlorid of platinum, but the best result has been obtained bythe use of alcohol, This disk may contain a sufficient number of grainsof platinum to give the desired result.

Secured within the swage c and extending across the flue are braces madeof copper wire to support the center'of the disk, and below the swage isa line of perforations d, arranged around the entire flue at asufficient height from the bottom to prevent combustion and to admit theoxygen and hydrogen. When heating the said disk, the flue rests on thesupport secured to the-outer pan, thus admitting the required amount ofdraft, and when the disk is sufficiently heated the said support isremoved and the flue drops in position, the lower edge being immersedwithin the water, thus forming an air-tight seal.

The flue is provided with a cone or conicalshaped top E, having a handleF, and secured in the top thereof an adjustable sleeve G, said sleeveprovided with a lug e, which engages the slot f in the said top. Thistop increases the draft to such an extent that twice the amount ofalcohol is consumed in the same time, thus producing twice the amount ofgas. Care must be taken not to increase the draft to such an extent thatit will cause combustion. The flue is also provided with a catch g,which consists of an oblong piece of metal having V-shaped sides bent atright angles thereto, and at the end nearest the greatest width of thesides is secured a lip at .right angles to the said piece and sides, thelength of which is about one-half the Width of the ed to receive andsecrete the hookh, which is secured in the bottom of the pan.

The cylindrical cover or hood H is provided with a handle 2' and is of asufficient length and width to cover the entire flue whenthe This catchis adaptadjustable sleeve is pushed in and the cone top inverted. Thelower edge of the cover reaches the bottom of the groove formed by thetwo pans and is held therein by the hooks jj, engaging the catches 7t70. I11 the top of the hood is an aperture Z to prevent the water frombeing drawn up by suction into the pan B.

Then the lamp is to be used, put into the outside pan about one inch ofwater. The flue is then raised and the required amount of alcohol ispoured over the mineral wool. This readily absorbs the alcohol andprevents any free alcohol from spilling should it be tipped over. Italso prevents undue action of the flame should by chance it becomeignited. The flue is replaced so that the edge rests on the support infront of pan and the alcohol lighted. The lamp is allowed to burn freelyuntil the platinized disk of asbestos begins to glow slightly, when thesupport is pushed aside, permitting the flue to fall in place. Now put011 the cover or hood, and after about thirty seconds remove and observewhether the alcohol has ceased to burn. If not, replace the hood, andagain after thirty seconds remove, when the platinized disk should beginto glow and formaldehyde be given off. Then put on the cone top andpermit lamp to generate formaldehyde until all of the alcohol isevaporated.

It will thus be seen that I provide an exceedingly cheap and simple formof gas-generator which will sufliciently perform all of its intendedfunctions.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a lamp, the combination of an outwardly-fiarin g pan havingsecured in the bottom thereof an inverted pan provided with a gauzebottom and adapted to receive a suitable absorbing infusible material;the outer pan provided with a lip said lip so constructed as to allowthe waterto run oil. before rising to a suiiicient height to enter theinner pan, a fine hinged within the groove formed by the sides of thesaid pans, and adapted to rest in the said lip when in a raisedposition, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a lamp, the combination of a line hinged within the groove formedby the outside of the inner pan and the inside of the outwardly-flaringpan, approximately near the lip, said flue consisting of a cylindricaltube having at its center a swage and secured within said swage,suitable supports extending across the flue, a perforated disk restingon said swage and support, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a lamp, the combination of an outwardly-flaring pan provided witha lip having secured therein an inverted pan, a groove formed by thesides of the said pans, said groove adapted to be filled with water,afiue supported within the outer pan, the lower edge of which rests whenin the lowered position in the said groove and water, and when in theraised position in the said lip, substantially as shown and described.

l. The combination of a lamp having a fine provided with a movable coneor conicalshaped top, said top having an adjustable sleeve, said sleeveadapted to be pushed in the said cone or conical-shaped top and the topinverted when desired to pack the said lamp, substantially as shown anddescribed.

111 testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD P. KUI-IN.

\Vitnesses:

O. H. FOWLER, PATRICK II. OFARRELL

